FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) – Several hundred marchers peacefully made their way through downtown Fort Worth on Saturday supporting the Global Marijuana March.

Since the Global Marijuana March began in 1999, hundreds of thousands of people have participated in similar marches in over 750 different cities worldwide.

The Fort Worth event was organized by DFW NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws), an educational organization dedicated to legalizing marijuana in Texas.

“Texans deserve legal marijuana just like they now have in Colorado and Washington” said DFW NORML Executive Director Shaun McAlister “and Texas patients deserve medical marijuana just as much as the other 19 states that now offer medicinal marijuana to those in need.”

Although many supporters of the cause seek to have marijuana legalized for recreational use – others were there to promote awareness of it’s use in the medical field in treatment of certain cancer-related diseases including pain management for age-related, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

“It’s no longer acceptable that the Government can say that this (marijuana) is a Schedule-1 drug and that is has no medical value – but owns the patent that says it’s a neuro-protectant and anti-toxidant.” said C.J. Maestas with the Cash Hyde Foundation.

The march was part of a day-long mini-festival held at Federal Plaza in downtown Fort Worth that featured local musicians, speakers and informational booths all united to discuss, promote, and educate both consumers and non-consumers alike.

UPDATE: Per DFW NORML Executive Director Shaun McAlister there were at least 500 people in attendance at the rally.